'US carrying burden of Hormuz security...': Marco Rubio urges allies to protect shipping

US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Sunday accused Iran of attempting to use the Strait of Hormuz as "leverage against the world", urging other countries to shoulder more responsibility for protecting one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes as the conflict between Washington and Tehran intensified. Speaking to reporters before departing for the Philippines to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers' meeting, Rubio said the United States would continue safeguarding commercial shipping but called on other nations to contribute resources. Rubio stated the United States is taking on the "burden of protecting global shipping" in the Strait of Hormuz. While Washington handles safeguarding global trade, Rubio is urging other nations to step up and share the financial and military responsibility of securing these critical maritime routes.